title: Roles of DnaK and RpoS in starvation-induced thermotolerance of Escherichia coli.
abstract: DnaK is essential for starvation-induced resistance to heat, oxidation, and reductive division in Escherichia coli. Studies reported here indicate that DnaK is also required for starvation-induced osmotolerance, catalase activity, and the production of the RpoS-controlled Dps (PexB) protein. Because these dnaK mutant phenotypes closely resemble those of rpoS (sigma38) mutants, the relationship between DnaK and RpoS was evaluated directly during growth and starvation at 30 degrees C in strains with genetically altered DnaK content. A starvation-specific effect of DnaK on RpoS abundance was observed. During carbon starvation, DnaK deficiency reduced RpoS levels threefold, while DnaK excess increased RpoS levels nearly twofold. Complementation of the dnaK mutation restored starvation-induced RpoS levels to normal. RpoS deficiency had no effect on the cellular concentration of DnaK, revealing an epistatic relationship between DnaK and RpoS. Protein half-life studies conducted at the onset of starvation indicate that DnaK deficiency significantly destabilized RpoS. RpoH (sigma32) suppressors of the dnaK mutant with restored levels of RpoS and dnaK rpoS double mutants were used to show that DnaK plays both an independent and an RpoS-dependent role in starvation-induced thermotolerance. The results suggest that DnaK coordinates sigma factor levels in glucose-starved E. coli.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln 68588-0666, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rockabrand
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Livers
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Austin
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kaiser
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Burgess
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Blum
mesh_terms: D000220:Adaptation, Biological; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002374:Catalase / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002455:Cell Division; D003470:Culture Media; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004790:Enzyme Induction; D004843:Epistasis, Genetic; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D006358:Hot Temperature; D009154:Mutation; D012808:Sigma Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D014157:Transcription Factors
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D003470:Culture Media; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C083911:DPS protein, Bacteria; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D012808:Sigma Factor; D014157:Transcription Factors; C069774:heat-shock sigma factor 32; C069567:sigma factor KatF protein, Bacteria; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D002374:Catalase; C063842:dnaK protein, E coli